Contemplations of Super Bowl halftime

So, Super Bowl Sunday has gone... and boy what a game.... it was close, down to the wire... just the kind of contest we need in the world championship game. Congrats to the Green Bay Packers!! But folk are talking about the halftime performances of the Black Eyed Peas. Some thought it was cool, others hated it.... most were left scratching their heads like, what in tarnation??

I actually thought the performance was lukewarm. It's just that I find the Black Eyed Peas incredibly out of shape for the high energy group they are supposed to be.... I mean, they have enjoyed fabulous success and probably are eating really good. It shows.

The Tron costumes worn by the dancers were kind of cool, but it seems like those hundreds of LED-lit dancers were meant to distract one away from the performance of the Peas. I mean, I feel like the Peas are supposed to have some sort of dance during their songs or do they just stand and sing in a line.Like a chorus..... That ain't rock n roll, soul, funk, or hiphop!!!! Don't they have choreography of their own? Isn't one of them a DJ? and what the heck happened to Fergie's voice????

They just seemed out of place on America's biggest stage, a problem that wasn't helped by the sound and other technical difficulties. Didn't Fergie's mic go out at the first song? And some of those lights seemed to flicker intermittently also.
The introduction of Usher was ok, but fell short of the expected anticipation as he floated down from the rafters of Cowboys Stadium. Slash was good until Fergie bawled all over his solo.... made me wonder if the monitoring system was working. Couldn't they hear themselves???

I just think that today's generation of entertainers have to remember that an invitation to perform at the halftime of the Super Bowl is one of music's most important gigs. After all, this is the Super Bowl. The world championship of Football.... Ok, ok let's give the Peas the benefit of the doubt. Let's say they aren't the biggest football fans around. Somebody in the league ought to give them a primer on the best Super Bowl performances ever. For me, the best one is Michael Jackson in 1993..... James Earl Jones introduced him, Radio City Music Hall was the producer.... MJ jumped out of the scoreboard....


or Prince, it rained during his performance of Purple Rain.....

or Stevie Wonder came in with his family playing and singing various instruments along with special guests John Legend and India Arie...and proceeded to rock the crowd with all his hits...

Point is, the Black Eyed Peas should have planned to BRING IT when invited to the biggest sporting event in America. They brought it with technology but left the entertainment at home. It was, as one news report described, underwhelming at best. Plus they need to get on a workout plan asap!!!!! Black Eyed Peas have been eating too many black eyed peas....

Lamentations of San Diego

So the San Diego Chargers lost to the New York Jets 17-14 in the AFC playoffs... Congrats to the Jets as they advance to the AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts... It's good to see USC's Mark Sanchez doing so well.... But I was pulling for the Chargers. I was born and raised in San Diego. Although for most of my adult life I have called Los Angeles my home, I have been in and around San Diego a lot over the last year. i just wanted to see San Diego get into that championship celebration mode all across the city...

We have never won a championship. All my life, the Chargers would get close, but never close the deal...I did not live in San Diego during the Fouts years,, but I watched and cheered from Los Angeles. I mean I loved my LA Raiders, but the hometown has a special place in my heart. But each time they would get close, but never close the deal. Oh yeah, they did make it to the Super Bowl one year, against the San Francsco 49ers.... but no deal. Matter of Fact, they were scorched 49-26.

 The Padres.... a little better with two World Series apperances, but no deal.

The various NBA teams (errr, they NEVER got close, they just lost..).. San Diego Clippers, Rockets - yes. the San Diego Rockets, San Diego Conquistadors.... all lessons in losing...

Since moving to Los Angeles, I have been in the City when my beloved Lakers won it all.... I was at the parade.... I've heard the fireworks and libations all around the City...  I remember when the Dodgers won it all.....Kirk Gibson's 1988 homerun at the bottom of a two-out ninth inning World Series game....this still resonates in my consciousness..... I remember the electricity gripping the City as our teams marched towards the finals and ultimate victory.... I just wanted to see San Diego get into that feeling....

But once again, it would not be....I really never recovered from the missed field goal that Nate Kaeding kicked in the wild card playoff game against the Jets a few years back....however, my soul was just ready to forgive him this season however as he went on a successful streak of 69 made field goals.... I admit I was happy he made the Pro Bowl this year..... but then he missed..... again..... three times.....in the most crucial game.... against the same team.. Familiar feeling for the City....

San Diego lamentations..... just can't close the deal....